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 Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2012 6:54 pm
It had been a late, lazy morning for the two of them. Finally, after they had dressed and eaten, the pair had decided to go out into the city for a while. The Temple of Naamah seemed like a logical first place to visit, after a trip to the market to get doves of course. Leo was looking at the different birds the merchant had out in the large cages today. For their part the doves sat on perches or fluttered around the cages. "Which do you think, Rio?"
While they were on their way to the market the D'Angeline had explained about exactly why they were going to look at doves- they were considered to be sacred animals and were released as offerings at Naamah's temple where they could continue to live in the gardens around it without coming to harm.
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Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2012 7:15 pm
Love was very intrigued by the doves - part of quite liked the symbolism and the ritual of it, but he also wondered why, if they were sacred, they were caged and sold in the first place. Something didn't quite seem to follow there...but they were offerings, and he wasn't going to complain. And he'd probably spent a little too much time around sentient and even just highly intelligent animals.
Nonetheless, he found himself trying to surmise if any of them looked unhappy or worse for wear. "How about those...?"
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Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2012 7:29 pm
If Rio had asked his question about them being caged aloud Leo would have just told him that he was not really sure, that was just how it had always been so far as he knew anyway. He looked at the pair Love had pointed at- they looked to be healthy and happy as far as birds went. After the exchange was made the pair of doves were put in a lovely little cage and it was offered to Leo. "Thank you."
"The temple is only just up the street from here." It would be safe to walk, since this area was mostly pedestrian traffic, rather than horses or carriages. "You will really like it, I think." He had shown Rio Eglantine House's shrine to Naamah, but the actual temple in the actual city was something else entirely. It was elegant and beautiful without being over the top.
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Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2012 7:44 pm
Unable to resist, Rio cooed at the doves and waggled the tips of his fingers just inside the cage. If the birds were supposed to be 'his,' however, they gave no indication of knowing it, and were clearly no more thrilled by him than they would have been by any other person. So he shrugged and let them be.
"It's a temple," he responded with a grin, before adding in a lower voice, "And it's mine. How could I not like it?" Regardless, he was obviously very excited.
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Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2012 8:08 pm
Leo laughed. "Just don't say that too loud, or you will have lots of explaining to do." That and quite a few confused priests and priestesses to deal with. When they stepped onto the path that headed toward the temple it might seem like they were walking through a public garden, but it was just the temple grounds all covered in the colors of fall. If Rio looked around he would see doves and other birds nestled up in the trees. After a couple of minutes they would reach the temple proper.
The temple was built of pristine white marble, the large double doors in the front were thrown open to let light and air in. The inside was mostly open, but decorated with flowers and candles. In the center of the room was the statue of Naamah, who stands with her arms open in welcome. The ceiling above it was high and vaulted, opening up in a sort of oculus near the top to allow the doves another way to fly outside.
A black haired, green eyed woman wearing scarlet robes approached them when they entered the temple. "Be welcome, brothers." She gave each of them the kiss of greeting.
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Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2012 9:19 pm
"There are worse things to have to explain," Rio said with a laugh. In truth, it was something he would rather like to explain, at some point or another. They were his followers, and it was his temple - a proper temple, like his aoidei wanted him to have - and why shouldn't they know? But it was too soon, perhaps. He did not know them well...but he also needed them.
For the moment, he let it be, and returned the woman's greeting when she came to them. Again, he found himself missing his wings acutely.
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Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2012 10:24 pm
Like perhaps why you are not a woman as they believe? That might not necessarily be hard to explain, just probably awkward considering one of the first conversations he had with Rio about that.
She glanced at the cage in Leo's hand. "You come to make an offering to Naamah?"
Leo nodded, smiling. "Yes, I have just come home from a long journey and I want to thank her for the protection she provided." It was very hard not to glance over at Rio as he spoke. One of the doves cooed and fluttered its wings. Are you as anxious as I feel all of a sudden?
"The priest is taking care of a Dedication, if you do not mind waiting a few moments...?"
"No, not at all." At least this would make explaining a dedication easier, if Rio could watch one.
The priestess nodded, motioning them in before going back to her task of replacing the spent candles. They were welcome to wait off to the side or look around as they wished until the priest was done.
Leo lead Love to an out of the way spot where they could watch the ceremony. A girl who looked to be no more than thirteen knelt abeyante before the statue of Naamah, her eyes closed and cheeks flushed slightly. He vividly remembered the day eight years ago, when he had done much the same thing and he found himself caught up in much the same feelings over again.
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Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2012 10:41 pm
As it happened, that was one of the things that gave him pause, but that did little to lessen the temptation. He had only a small handful of followers who were aware of him, something that was mostly his own fault, as he'd never actively attempted to collect any. But now they were here, and there were so many of them, and it would be so much easier than beginning from scratch. Reminding and convincing himself to hold his human illusion was...difficult.
The ceremony was a welcome, fascinating distraction, one he tried to make himself focus on. But there were whispers here that seemed so loud, prayers so close by...
Love shut his eyes, but he couldn't shut it out. Maybe this wasn't as good of an idea as it had seemed.
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Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2012 10:56 pm
Leo wrapped an arm around Rio's waist and pressed a kiss to his hair. He did not know exactly what was bothering the god, but clearly something was. He listened to the dedication with half an ear, though he did not really need to- he knew these words by heart and whispered them softly to Love. The water came first. "By Naamah's sacred river, I baptise you into her service." Then honey-cake. "May your flesh be bound unto the sweetness of desire," Then the wine. "May your blood rise to the headiness of passion," And finally the oil. "May your soul ever find grace in the service of Naamah."
Once it was done the girl released her dove, and he could hear the beat of its wings as it flew up toward the oculus in the temple ceiling.
((I totally snagged some of this from Kushiel's Dart. i<3u Jacqueline Carey, just using it for fun plotbits!))
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Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2012 11:12 pm
That helped. Leo's touch and voice were grounding, and after a moment, Rio opened his eyes again. If he could focus on his companion, surely he could remember that now was not the time to let himself loose. And he would probably scare the hell out of that poor girl, besides. This was her moment more than it was his, and it would be unfair to take away from it.
Calmed somewhat, he turned his head to Leo's shoulder and sought out his hand. He would explain, when it was over and when he trusted his voice.
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Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2012 11:28 pm
Leo held Rio close, resting his head atop Love's. He only hoped that the god did not notice that his heart was racing- right now he was not sure if he could find the appropriate words to explain why. Too many emotions whirled about inside him between thinking about what he had planned to do and watching the girl's dedication. He watched as the girl left, smiling softly at her when she stopped to look at him. "Welcome to the service of Naamah, little sister." The girl grinned at him and curtseyed, heading out the temple doors.
The D'Angeline's hand rubbed lazy circles on Rio's back. Since they were mostly alone now that the priest had gone back to his other duties he dared to ask. "Are you alright, Rio?" He spoke in common on purpose, in case they happened to be overheard.
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Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2012 11:37 pm
Rio looked up when the girl passed by and Leo spoke to her, and he watched her intently as she left. She had no idea. None. He wanted to reach for her. He wanted her to know. It startled him, just how much and how suddenly he wanted to be known, when before he had been so content.
"I'm fine, I just..." It was so hard to explain what was going on, what it was like. "I can hear them. They're mine, they speak to me, and they don't even know it."
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Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2012 11:53 pm
Leo took a slow deep breath, willing his heart to relax. He only had a very vague grasp of what Rio was speaking about. "Well, you have to remember that D'Angeline's do not expect to meet their gods until the afterlife so it is not something most go looking for before then." He looked thoughtful for a moment. "If you want to start to reveal yourself, why not talk to those in my House first? I have known them my whole life. They will hear you out without skepticism ." Everyone in Eglantine was especially open minded, being it was the house of artistry and learning.
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Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2012 12:11 am
"Most people don't. The mortals around the Pantheon are...an exception, and even that is relatively recent." And a bit beside the point, really. He paused, taking a moment to organize his thoughts more. "I'm sorry, I was just...overwhelmed. I'm not used to hearing so many, or so close. I didn't realize what it would be like." Or how much he wanted it.
"I'll have to think about it. And I-" Oh, there were too many thoughts in his head, and the words that weren't his that kept finding their way in weren't helping matters. "That's not why I came here. It's not. I need you to know that."
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Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2012 12:28 am
"You do not need to apologize for anything. I'll have you know I rather like holding you." Well, more than that really. "I know, you came to bring me back. Though, I confess I hope you don't intend to leave me here- it would not be the same anymore." He fell silent for a moment, this was not how he had planned to say this but it would do. "Because I love you. Not just what you are and not just as Naamah...as yourself. I love you, Rio and I would be terribly lonely without you."
Leo knew better than to think that Love would ever only be his, he did not want that because it would stifle the wild and carefree spirit that he was. It was the same with himself, he could never really belong to any one person but Rio would always keep a special place in his heart.
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